In a few weeks, Joe Duff and Jeffrey Nordquist will be running as teammates at Grand Valley State University. On Saturday, the two outstanding runners were competitors at the Grand Haven High School Patriots Day Run. Nordquist, a junior-to-be at GVSU, outlasted his teammate-to-be Duff in the 5K event, running a fantastic time of 16 minutes, 28 seconds. Duff placed second in the annual fourth of July weekend race, crossing the finish line in 16:54.

Two men are recovery from gunshot wounds suffered shortly after Fourth of July festivities wrapped up in downtown Grand Rapids. Both men were shot in their legs just before 11:30 p.m., near Rosa Parks Circle. Police immediately began to evacuate people still in the area. "It is my understanding that there was some sort of fight or some sort of event occurring in the parking lot, some sort of commotion and struggle,' Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said. "It was during that event that someone pulled out a firearm and fired at least two shots.'

The hottest spot in Grand Haven for Independence Day weekend fun-seekers was almost certainly Grand Haven State Park. The park's acting supervisor, Melissa VanderVelde, said thousands of people came to camp, swim or play on the beach over the three-day weekend. On Monday alone, VanderVelde said she estimated that around 5,000 people came to the state park. "The beach was standing-room only, at least in front of the pavilion,' she said, adding that the park's 174 campsites were full Saturday through Monday.

A 4-year-old Muskegon boy was killed Friday night when the car he was riding in went off the road and hit a tree, according to Michigan State Police. Elijah Wolfenbargen was one of three people taken by ambulance to Hackley Hospital in Muskegon, where the boy was pronounced dead due to injuries suffered in the crash, police said. The crash occurred in the area of Sternberg Road near South Hilton Park Road in Muskegon County's Sullivan Township.

The Tri-Cities area was filled with sun and plenty of activity during the Independence Day holiday. Monday began with festivities in the city of Ferrysburg, where a parade was held. "It was a great turnout,' Ferrysburg Mayor Jeff Stille said. "We've had progressively more and more people turn out every year. God bless this beautiful day - it really helps to have a nice healthy turnout.'

A carnival worker was killed early today after coming into contact with a power line in Sand Lake. It happened at a Fourth of July carnival around 3:15 a.m. "The ride was being dismantled at the time,' Sand Lake Police Chief Ken Williams said. "It is still under investigation at this time, but it appears contact was made with an electrical wire.' Police said it's not clear if the power line was down before the accident or because of the accident.

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. West-southwest wind at 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 2 pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. West-northwest wind at 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.